Stage, screen and TV character actor Ed Wheeler, 88, died on August 21, his family has just announced. Though movies and TV (and many, many commercials) paid the rent, Wheeler’s heart was on the stage: he acted with the Negro Ensemble Company and the Public Theater, and in 2017 he was honored by the National Black Theater Festival for his “contributions to American theater and the broader entertainment industry.” His film and TV vehicles included Broadcast News, Mickey Blue Eyes, Ed, Law & Order, One Life to Live, and Blue Bloods. Wheeler told reporter Lia Chang that “My inspiration came from my mother. She worked hard all of her life as the owner of a small Mom & Pop employment agency and sought to encourage young college students through summer work. My role models were mostly athletes. My young life was highly influenced by my involvement with the YMCA.”
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